Deadline for £150 energy rebate extended

Published: 7 September 2022

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With more than 90 per cent of eligible residents having received the payment, the Isle of Wight Council is urging the remaining 4,400 households not to miss out.

The closing date has been extended until 16 September to encourage a final take up of the £150 payment from government to assist with energy bills.

The council has also arranged two drop-in sessions to help guide residents through the application process.

These will be held at Ryde Help Centre on Tuesday, 13 September, between 9am and 5pm, and County Hall, Newport, on Thursday, 15 September, between 8.30am and 5pm. There is no need to book an appointment.

Residents are asked to bring a recent bank statement for the account they wish to deposit the payment. 

Isle of Wight households have so far received a total of £7,551,900.

The rules of the scheme are that each eligible household receives one payment of £150 paid to the person named on the council tax bill. 

The letters sent out to people who pay by cash contain a unique code, enabling them to complete a short application online so payment can be made. The scheme also requires local councils to do fraud checking to ensure payments are made to the correct person.

You are eligible to claim this payment if your property is in council tax bands A to D and:
• you were living at the address on 1 April 2022;
• the council tax bill was in your name on 1 April 2022;
• the rebate has not already been claimed by another household member;
• the property is not a second home or unoccupied.

Councillor Chris Jarman, Cabinet member for strategic finances said: “Our message is simple — don’t miss out!

"We know many people face huge difficulties with rising energy bills and that is why we are working hard to encourage households to apply for the support they are entitled to.

"No one should miss out. The worst case is that unclaimed funds return to central government.”

Households who have not yet applied for funding can also go to the council website: https://www.iow.gov.uk/Residents/Benefits-Council-Tax-and-Business-Rates/Council-Tax-Services/Council-Tax/Energy-rebate 

The local authority has also been given government funding for discretionary pay-outs to assist those not eligible for an energy rebate under the main scheme.  This is for households in council tax bands E-H in receipt of local council tax support, housing benefit or universal credit.
Further details can also be found here: https://www.iow.gov.uk/Residents/Benefits-Council-Tax-and-Business-Rates/Council-Tax-Services/Council-Tax/Energy-rebate